Talented Barbados and West Indies fast-bowling all-rounder, Jofra Archer came up big yesterday.
And now his school is eyeing the biggest prize in Intermediate cricket.
Archer hit a polished innings of 86 yesterday which contained five fours and two sixes and came off 102 balls in 134 minutes at the crease.
His knock put Christ Church Foundation School in the ascendancy against Isolation Cavaliers going into the today’s final day of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Intermediate four-day final at Foursquare Oval, in St Philip.
At stumps, the Cavaliers were 87 for two in reply to Foundation’s challenging first innings 269 all out.
Foundation had many reasons to celebrate early yesterday, capturing the prize wicket of former Barbados and West Indies opener Dale Richards, easily Cavaliers’ most explosive option with the bat.
Jerome Jones was the fourth bowler used and off his very first delivery Richards miscued an attempted pull from the left-arm pacer to short mid-wicket and was caught for 15.
Reneldo Holder was dropped by Aaron Jones at second slip off the fourth ball of the innings from player/coach Nhamo Winn. He made 27, before Aaron Jones held on to a catch at extra cover from Archer.
Later, Jones also put down another easy offer from Jeremy Bowen at slip off his namesake Jerome. Bowen will restart today on 25 and Kevin Vaughan six.
Earlier, Foundation resumed from an overweek 153 for six, with Carlos Maynard 36 and Xavier Duncan three. Duncan was lbw off the first ball of the day to medium-pacer Jamel Carter.
Archer and a patient Maynard added 36 for the seventh-wicket. Maynard driving loosely, was brilliantly caught by Richards, low to his right at second slip off pacer Hallam Bryan. He was in for 144 minutes, faced 86 balls and had three fours.
Archer got into his stride from early with flowing shots on both sides of the wicket. He struck the first six of the match, disdainfully hooking Carter over forward square. He hoisted the first ball from Dacosta Atherley over long-on for six.
Archer brought up his half-century with a cut to point for three. It included three fours and two sixes, from 66 deliveries in 78 minutes.
He and fellow Barbados and West Indies Under-19 fast bowler Jerome Jones posted a stubborn ninth-wicket partnership of 57.
Jones made 16 before he was taken at extra cover just before the tea interval. Archer was on 71, when he was joined by last man Stefon Jordan.
Eventually, Archer fell 14 short of a well deserved hundred when he pulled a short ball straight to mid-on.
Bowen and Hallam Bryan claimed three wickets each for 36 and 47 runs respectively.
Play starts today and 12:30 p.m.

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